$28,000 Bitcoins Paid By Los Angeles Valley College As Ransom For Cyberattack [Video]

Los Angeles Valley College is yet another victim to a cyberattack late last month. This move disrupted computer systems, email, and voice mail at the Southern California's public community college. The incident resulted with a ransom note found by college officials.

The document informed the college the encryption of its electronic files. The files can only be decrypted with a 'private key.' The cyberattacker would only supply the key after obtaining payment in the form of bitcoins. Bitcoins are valuable digital currency that can be used anonymously without a centralized bank, according to a report in Washington Post.

The college's official statement stated that the funds for the ransom as well as technical assistance of cybersecurity experts from a cybersecurity insurance policy made in preparation for these occurrences, according to a report in Computer Weekly. The ransom was worth $28,000.

However, paying ransoms were not advised by security and law enforcement representatives because it encourages this cybercrime to be done. There is no assurance with the restoration of data as well.

Kansas Heart Hospital

A cyberattack was also launched against a Kansas hospital that demanded a ransom to be paid to release hostage files last May 2016. However, the cyber culprits refused in unlocking the files and even demanded more money, according to a post by MSP Mentor.

Kansas Heart Hospital, based in Wichita, was attacted with with some files of patients that were virtually locked by hackers.

Money was demanded by these cybercriminals with hospital administrators. These individuals also demanded the ransom to be paid through Bitcoin or other untraceable virtual currency.

Attackers promised the hospital with a decryption key if payment is confirmed. However, Dr. Gre Duick, the president of the hospital, said that the hackers did not perform as they promised.